Clasp for supporting scarfs for neckwear.



PATENTED 00T. 11, 1904.

L. LASSEN. CLASP FOR SUPPORTINGv SGARFS POR NECKWEAR.-

APPLICATION FILED MAR.16 1904.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented October 11, 1904.

PATENT OEETCE.

LETTIE LASSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofret'ters Patent No. 772,159, dated october 11, 1904.

Application filed March 16, 1904. Serial No. 198,450. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LETTIE LAssEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of theI vfrom becoming wrinkled or drawn into folds that greatly reduce the width of the ribbon or the like and render it bulky, uncomfortable, and unsightly as an article of ornamental neckwear.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a neckband or flimsy stock for womens wear broken away and a side view of the improvement shown applied upon the inner side of the flimsy stock to retain it in proper form. Fig. 1L is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the example of my invention that is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the improvement shown applied to a iiimsy neckband or stock for preventing wrinkles in it. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the device in part, showing the manner in which it is applied upon a scarf or neckband for preventing the fabric from wrinkling. Fig. 4 isa transverse vertical sectional view showing an additional feature for the improved clasp and its application upon fibrous fabric to keep it smooth or unwrinkled; and Fig. 5 is Va horizontal transverse sectional view of the improved clasp on the line 5 5 inFig. 4., showing the interlocked engagement of the clasp members with the fibrous fabric near onevedge of said fabric.

The improved clasp, as exemplified in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, comprises two members 10 1l,that are in the form of thin strips of slightlyelastic material, which may be metal; but preferably said strips are formed of whalebone or a composition of matter imitating such a substance and which is durable as well as slightly elastic. The strip 10 may be and preferably is formed with essentially parallel side edges, as is shown by full and dotted lines in Fig. 1, and slightly-convexed edges at its ends, as is represented in said figure.

In the strip 10, which for convenience in description may be termed the body-piece of the device, an opening c is formed near each end thereof, these openings having a sufficient width to receive the ends of the other strip, 11, as will now be explained. The strip 11, having such a thickness as will permit its free bending laterally near each end, isipreferably tapered edgewise toward said ends, as appears in full and dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus giving the ends a bluntpointed shape. Preferably the length of the body-piece 10 and pointed strip 11 is equal, and said pieces are secured together at their centersby means of a rivet c, as appears in the drawings.

It will be seen that as thepieces 10 11 are elastic they may be bent somewhat laterally and will recover their original straight form. Furthermore, the strip 11, that may be termed the tongue-piece, may have each of its end portions bent soas to curve them laterally or outwardly from the body-piece 10, which will necessarily-shorten said end portions with regard to similar portions of the body-piece, and thus permit the free insertion of a pointed end o into a corresponding opening c.

While the improved clasp may be employed generally for holding light fabric-such as broad ribbons, chiffon, or other iiimsy material-spread out and kept from wrinkling, the preferred use of the improvement is for retaining a broad neck-ribbon or the like in fiat condition on the neck of the wearer, so that the neckwear is not allowed to draw into wrinkles or numerous folds that reduce its width and render it unsightlyas well as uncomfortable, particularly during warm weather.

IOO

To apply the clasp for service, the neckband, that may be a broad ribbon, such as A, is double folded at each edge one edge at a time, the folds e of the material being turned toward the side of the material that is to havecontact with the neck of the wearer. At an appropriate point the improved clasp is applied upon the inner side of the neckband, so that the respective ends of the body-piece l0 may be passed beneath the adjacent fold e. The tongues on the end of the piece l1 are now successively bent to shorten them and permit the blunt-pointed ends thereon to be pressed upon the folded fabric over an opening a in the body-piece l0, which will force such material through the opening a, and the end will lock the goods in the opening by its engagement within the opening. rIhe material A is to be properly stretched over the bodypiece l0 of the clasp after one end of the clasp is secured thereto, as explained. Then the oppositeend of the device is in a like manner clasped upon the folded material, which will thus be retained in proper condition for wear and will not become wrinkled or permitted to draw into folds while the clasp is engaged with the flimsy stock or neck-ribbon.

Of course any desired number of the improved clasp or supporting' devices for flimsy material may be employed, and ribbons or other dress ornaments, such as breast-sashes or waist-ribbons, may beheld in an uncreased or original condition for an indefinite length of time.

Some material employed for neckwear, such as lace or the like, is' so thin that anything dark in color will show through the fabric, and as the clasp material may be thus exposed I have provided means for rendering the clasp invisible by covering the body-piece l0 of the clasp with a brous casing l2, that may be of a like color with the goods or neckwear material the clasp is applied upon. This sheath or casing 12, that completely envelops the body-piece of the clasp and is thereon secured by any suitable means, is shown as applied in Figs. 4 and 5.

It is evident that slight changes may be made in the form and other minor details of construction within the scope of my invention as defined in the claims. Hence I do not restrict it t0 the exact conformation of parts shown, but claim the right to vary therefrom within the limits of said claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A clasp, comprising a resilient and normally flat body-piece having an o pening transversely therein near each end, and a resilient tongue-piece secured near its center on one side of the body-piece, and having a tapered tongue on each end, that by outwardly bowing said tongue maybe inserted atits endinto a respective opening in the body-piece and receive fibrous material that passes with the end of the tongue into the opening. y

2. A clasp comprising' a flat resilient bodypiece-having an opening in it near each end, a fibrous envelop incasing said body-piece and having' a corresponding opening' therein near each end, a tongue-piece of resilient material which is fiat, thin and tapered edgewise toward each end, said tongue-piece being secured near its center upon one side of the body-piece, whereby the ends of the tonguepiece when bowed laterally, may be passed into a respective opening in the envelop and body-piece.

3. A clasp comprising an elongated bodypiece having an opening near one extremity thereof and a resilient tongue attached to said body-piece and normally resting flat upon the side thereof, said tongue being adapted to be bent to have its extremity project through said opening to attach the clasp, and means for attaching said clasp at the extremity remote from said opening- In testimony whereof I have signed my name t o this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LETTIE LASSEN. Ilfitnesses:

JNO. M. RITTER, WM. P. PAT'roN. 

